West Covington Ky. Sept 4^th 1863

 

Dear Frien Brother.

                        I now take the opportunity of penning you a few lines to inform you that we are all well and we sincerely hope you are enjoying the same good health. I wish you had of been here last week and week before when the fifty first regiment was here. I know you would have enjoyed yourself. We did. It seemed more like Norristown to us than it has done since we left there. To see all the old faces. Oh! how I wish I was back there. We had two letters since they left here. They are at camp Sparks near Nicholasville. We had a letter from Gould Dowd to-night / They are all well. We thought Gould would have died one night with the cramp. He is Drum Major. He writes a beautiful letter. Father got to see them. He came up while they were here with a lot of deserters. I will tell you all we I seen. Gould Dowd Major Bolton Charley Bridges George M^cGively Bill Jenkins Ben Thompson Billy Dignan Johnny Johnson Paddy M^cDivet and a lot more to numerous to mention. Major Bolton and all the of the boys that you are acquainted with would like very much to see you and Tom. Sam Shinghuff is to be shot for desertion. He did not know when he was here that he was to be shot. Barney ODonnel is in Cincinnati under arrest for desertion also. I was dreaming about you and Tom last night. I thought you were both / here with us. But it was only a dream I only wish it had been a reality, but it cannot be yet, so we must be satisfied for awhile. I believe I will now have to bring my letter to a close as I can think of nothing more to write about at present from your affectionate Sister Mary Smith

 

Brother John you have often remarked that to answer all the questions you write I should keep your letter before me. Now I wish you to please do the same thing for me or rather for Mother. I have wrote two or three letters to you and I have asked you the same question and you seem to have forgotten it. Why is it that Charlotte does not write to us. Have we done or said anything to offend her or does she forget there is / any such persons living? It cannot be because I have not wrote—for I have wrote three letters to her one for Maggie. I don't see how she could possibly help getting them. Please write soon and in answer to this.

 

Good Bye and all live to see this war over, and may we all be together again.

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